Electronic tube handler



2%, 1957 A. B. PUCK'ETT 2,803,484

ELECTRONIC TUBE HANDLER Filed July 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l A/ /E'f? 5. Packs ff IN V EN TOR.

BY M

- ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1957 A. 5. PUCKETT 2,803,484

ELECTRONIC TUBE HANDLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1955 United States Patent ELECTRONIC TUBE HANDLER Allen B. Puckett, Houston, Tex. Application July 12, 1955, Serial No. 521,552

Claims. (Cl. 294-33) This invention relates to electronic tube handlers, and more particularly to adjustable handlers for pulling and replacing electronic tubes in hard to get to places.

As the use of electronic equipment becomes increasingly widespread, the practical problem of pulling and replacing tubes in many types of electronic equipment is increased, as many electronic tubes are in places which are either difficult or impossible to reach by hand or devices now in use for handling such tubes.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a tube handler for electronic tubes which will pull and replace tubes in hard to get to places.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic tube handler which is economical to construct and dependable in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic tube handler which is adjustable to enable it to reach into diflicult places.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like references refer to like parts throughout the several views, and where Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modified form of the tube handler of the present invention showing it in position gripping an electronic-tube,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation along lines 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form of tube puller,

Fig. 4 is a plan view along the lines 44 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an end view along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 3, the tube handler is indicated generally by the numeral and includes as a whole the handle 12, the arm 14 secured to and extending from handle 12, a lateral adjustment assembly 16 projecting from the hollow arm 14, and a tube gripping assembly 18 which is vertically adjustable. I

The arm 14 is hollow, creating the bore 20 extending the length thereof, for purposes which will become more apparent later on.

The lateral adjustment assembly 16 includes a concave flange 20, best seen in Fig. 4, secured to the end of arm 14, which flange 20 has a hole 22 therethrough permitting the passage of tension tube 24 contained in bore 20. Fitted against and complementary to the concave surface of the concave flange 20 is the slotted circular band 26 having the circumferential slot 28 in a portion thereof. The circular band 26 is held against concave flange 20 by the annular flange 30 secured to the end of tension tube 24, which annular flange is complementary to the inner surface of circular band 26. Thus, when tension is placed on tension tube 24 so as to pull annular flange 30 toward concave flange 22, the circular band 26 is held between these two and rotation of it is prevented. However, if this tension is released, then rotation is permitted.

To control the rotation of circular band 26, the tension tube 24 is of such length that it extends beyond the other end of arm 14 and is there stepped down and provided with screw threads and thumb screw 32 which gives an effective and simple means of controlling tension on tension tube 24 so as to permit or prohibit rotation of circular band 26. Other means might be used to place tension on tension tube 24, such as a rack and pinion assembly, but the use of the thumb screw 20 is the simplest and is preferred.

The vertically adjustable tube gripping assembly 18 includes the generally V-shaped yoke 34 secured to circular band 26 in horizontal alignment with arm 14. This yoke is so constructed that it yieldingly resists closing and thus tends to return to the position shown in Fig. 4. A simple spring metal yoke is quite effective for this. To give vertical adjustability to the tube gripping assembly 18 there is secured to each side of the yoke 34 near its open end an extension member 36. These extension members 36 are pivotally secured to the open ends of the yoke 34 so that they may be moved upwardly from the position viewed in Fig. 3. T0 permit and to control this movement, at releasable locking means 38 is provided, which preferably is a thumb screw 40 at the point of joinder of each extension member with the yoke. Any type of releasable locking means 38 may be used which will permit pivoting of extension members 36 when desired and yet which will lock them in place.

To form a gripping surface to hold the electronic tubes, a pair of tube gripping members 42 are secured to the extension members 36 proximate their free ends. These tube gripping members 42 are constructed of material which has gripping qualities such as a rubber or cloth facing over a metal disc as is illustrated here. It is evident that many difierent types of gripping surfaces could be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Since the yoke 34 tends to remain in the expanded position shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary to provide some means to close it to enable the tube gripping members 42 to come in contact with the electronic tube. This is done by the trigger assembly 44 (best seen in Fig. 3), the cord 46 (best seen in Fig. 4), and loops 48 secured to each inner side of yoke 34 proximate the extension members 36. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, cord 46 nms from trigger assembly 44 through tension tube 24, passes through both loops 48 and then returns to trigger 44, so that movement of trigger assembly 44 toward handle 12 pulls the yoke together bringing the tube gripping members 42 toward each other permitting gripping of an electronic tube. Trigger 50 of trigger assembly 44 extends downwardly through slot 52 in arm 14, so that the hand of the operator can grip this trigger 50 and handle 12 to tighten and release tube gripping members 42. Trigger assembly 44 is slidable with respect to arm 14 and thus the natural tendency of yoke 34 to open will drag trigger assembly 44 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 and open the yoke when trigger 50 is released.

In operation, the thumb screw 32 near handle 12 is slightly loosened freeing circular band 26 and yoke 34 is rotated to the desired position. Once in the desired position, the thumb screw 32 is tightened, locking yoke 34. Then, if desired, the extension members 36 may be moved upwardly or downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 and locked in such position by the use of thumb screws 40. When the tube handler is thus adjusted for the desired angles, the operator grips the handle 12 and trigger 50 and places tube handler 10 so that the gripping members 42 are at the base of the electronic tube desired to be removed. Rearward pressure is then placed on trigger 50 by squeezing the trigger toward handle 12, resulting in gripping of the electronic tube by tube grip- 3 ping members 42 and this tube may then be removed. The reverse of this operation is utilized for replacing tubes. If desired, the tube puller may be simplified somewhat. For example, the band 26, yoke 34 and extension members 36 may be integral or formed of one piece with the gripping members 42 omitted, 21 simple gripping surface being provided on the free or gripping ends of the entire 7 Referring now to Fig. l, the adjustable tube handler 10a includes the handle 12a, arm 54, a verticallyadjustable tube gripping assembly 18a, and work illuminating means The arm 54 includes two spaced parallel members 58 and 64) to an end of which is secured the generally V- shaped yoke 340. As shown in Fig. 1, this V-shaped yoke in the modification of Fig. 1 is preferably made as an given for the purpose of illustration, changes in details and rearrangements of parts will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, especially in regard to the type of tube gripping members 42 and 42a and the structure of trigger assemblies 44 and 44a. Accordingly, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable electronic tube handler comprising, a handle; an arm secured to and extending from said handle; and a vertically adjustable tube gripping assembly including a generally V-shaped yoke yieldingly resisting closing connected at its smaller end to the arm, extension members, releasable locking means pivotally securing an extension member to each side of the yoke near its open end, a tube gripping member secured to each extension member proximate its free end, a loop on each inner side of theyoke, a trigger assembly slidably secured to the extension of the parallel members of 58 and 60 of arm 54,

although this is not necessary as the yoke 34a may be made as yoke 34 of Fig. 4. Like yoke 34, this yoke 34a yieldingly resists closing and when not forced to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 the yoke will be wider open. An extension member 36 is pivotally secured to the open ends of each side of yoke 34a by the releasable locking means 38, which preferably is thumb screw 40.

In this form 10a another type of tube gripping member 42a is illustrated which is a concave rubber surface. The tube gripping members 42a are brought into the position shown in Fig. 1 in much the same manner as is done with tube handler 10. A trigger assembly 44a is slidably mounted in arm 54 and has a cord 46a which passes through the loops 48 on the inner sides of yoke 34a, so that movement of trigger assembly 44a toward handle 12:: will bring the tube gripping members 42a together and release of this trigger assembly 44a will permit the tube gripping members 42a to separate under the force of the elasticity of yoke 34a. The similarity of trigger 50a to trigger 50 and of slot 52a to slot 52 is apparent, and no additional explanation is necessary.

The work illuminating means 56 shown in modification 10a includes a light source 62, such as a small dry cell and light bulb, mounted on arm 54, which light source 62 is directed toward mirror 64 mounted within yoke 34a proximate the extension members 36. The mirror 64 is pivotally mounted by means of pin 66 extending through each side of yoke 34a so as not to hinder the opening and closing of yoke 34a. Friction between this pin 66 and each side of yoke 34a holds the mirror in the desired rotated position to direct the light toward the work.

In operation this modified form 10a is utilized much a and the mirror 64 is rotated to place the light at the desired point. 7

The present invention, therefore, is well suited to carry out the objects and attainthe advantages mentioned, as

well as others inherent therein.

While only two examples of the invention have been arm and extending therefrom proximate the handle, and a cord on the trigger assembly extending through the loops so that tension on the cord closes the open ends of the yoke and the tube gripping members and release of the tension allows them to open.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the releasable locking means includes a thumbscrew.

3. An adjustable electronic tube handler comprising, a handle; a hollow arm extending from the handle having a bore along its length; a laterally adjustable assembly projecting from one end of the hollow arm including a concave flange on said one end of the arm and having a hole therethrough in alignment with the bore, a circular slotted band having its outer surface adjacent and complementary to the concave surface of said flange, and a tension member including a tube in the bore of the arm extending from each end thereof, an annular flange on one end of the tube adjacent and complementary to the inner surface of the band, and means on the other end of the tube to control tension on it to permit or prevent rotation of the circular band; and a vertically adjustable tube gripping assembly including a generally V-shaped yoke yieldingly resisting closing secured at its closed end to the band in alignment with the arm, extension members, releasable locking means pivotally securing an extension member to each side of the yoke near its open end, a pair of tube gripping members secured to the extension members proximate their free ends, a loop on each inner side of the yoke proximate the extension member, a trigger assembly slidably secured in the tube and extending through the arm proximate the handle, and a cord on the trigger extending through the arm to the loops so that tension on the cord closes the open ends of the yoke and the gripping members and release of tension allows them to open.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which the means on the tube to control the tension on it includes screw threads and a nut.

5. The tube handler of claim 4 in which the releasable locking means includes thumbscrews.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,323 'Ha'nsen Nov. 12, 1918 Gordon Apr. 29, 1954 7 

